You Can't Make This Stuff Up

How would you like to worship a god who is greedy, jealous, violent, vindictive, and sexually promiscuous? If you are religious and are neither a Christian nor a Jew, the chances are excellent that you do.

Virtually all pagan religions incorporate into their belief system a variety of gods whose main purposes are to torment humans and make their lives as miserable as possible. Most of us are aware that in China it is considered a dangerous thing to compliment a couple on their “beautiful” baby because the gods might hear and become so jealous that they will harm the child. Instead, one is supposed to loudly declare that the child is ugly and pathetic. Thus, the gods will be appeased and not kill the baby.

We who have studied the major world religions have ample evidence that when man creates gods, he creates them in his image. Humans attribute to their gods the same qualities that they possess as part of their most sinful human natures. Thus, those involved in pagan religions concentrate on trying to live their lives unnoticed by their gods in order to escape their wrath. They fear that their material goods will be taken from them, their loved ones will die, and they will find themselves the target of every sort of calamity. In short, their pagan gods treat humans exactly the way that unsaved humans treat each other. They rule through fear and intimidation.

Besides all of that, pagan religions teach that their gods need to be constantly appeased. They must be given gifts and sacrifices that take an enormous toll on the faithful. I saw a young Buddhist monk on television who was required to run more than 100 miles in a specified time period while fasting and wearing stiff sandals. He said that if he were unable to complete the task, he would be put to death. This was not an anti-Buddhist piece; it was simply meant to be informative.

Is it any wonder that Christianity has impacted the world as nothing else ever has? First, it teaches that God created us in His image, and through Jesus Christ, He gave us the power to overcome sin and destruction, not only in our own lives, but in the world in which we live. Jesus rules through the power of a love so great that He gave His life so that we could live forever with Him.

Second, Christianity teaches that because God loves us and cares deeply about every nuance of our lives, Jesus wants us to live in fellowship with Him as His “friends.” (John 15:14)

Third, Christianity teaches that salvation is free. We cannot earn it, and we cannot deserve it. It is the free gift of God. All we need to do is receive it.

Pagan religions are simply a reflection of man’s sinful nature as evidenced by what men would do if they were god. Christianity stands in direct opposition to everything that the unsaved value because it reflects the world as it should be and as it is seen through the eyes of a powerful loving God.

Some say that Jesus’ promises to us are just “too good to be true.” I say that what Jesus Christ has done for us is so far out of the realm of human understanding that no human could have conceptualized it. After careful consideration, I have concluded that where Christianity is concerned, you just can’t make this stuff up!

For books by Joyce Swann, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/.

The Need is Real

Until a few years ago when the city passed a law banning panhandling, El Paso, Texas, was overrun with homeless men and women. Because of our mild, sunny weather, these individuals migrated here during the winter months and congregated on street corners at every major intersection.

Those who do not live in areas that attract homeless people probably have no idea of the diversity among them. While some are old and sick, most are under age thirty-five. Many are big, healthy-looking young men whom an observer feels certain could obtain employment in a variety of jobs. Others are young women who look as if they are new to the streets.

These “street people” vie for attention in order to put themselves in a position to receive the lion’s share of the money from the hands of motorists thrust out the windows of cars stopped at the traffic lights. Many attire themselves in makeshift costumes; others perform in order to attract attention. One young man spent the entire day every day at a busy intersection leaping into the air and performing all sorts of acrobatic gyrations and dance moves. His “routine” was so strenuous that one had to wonder how he was able to continue for ten or fifteen minutes; to continue to perform at such a pace for hours was beyond explanation.

About fifteen years ago, when the influx of homeless people in El Paso was at its peak, my daughter Francesca worked briefly teaching at a private Christian school. One of her high school students, whose father was very wealthy, commented in class one day that his dad had told him to never give money to a homeless person because they were drunks and druggies who were just going to use the money to get high. The other students in the class agreed with him, indicating that their parents had given them similar advice.

Francesca later told me that when the students had finished commenting she told them that their parents were right; almost all homeless people are alcoholics and addicts, and many of them are mentally ill. Then she told them something that I have never forgotten. She said, “While all of that is true, you must remember that their need is real.”

I do not know how much of an impact that statement had on Francesca’s students, but I know that it forever changed the way I view the homeless. It is easy to say, “They should get a job. They should sober up. They should get off drugs. They should go home to their parents.” The truth is that they should probably do all of those things, but the reality is that they are sick and addicted and cold and hungry.

I do not have the answer to the problem of that subculture of people who live on the streets. They hate shelters and will normally use them only if it is so cold that they fear freezing to death if they spend the night outside. They do not want food or blankets; they want money to spend on alcohol and drugs. Individuals who attempt to distribute food, clothing or other basic necessities, are frequently verbally attacked and sometimes physically beaten by those whom they are attempting to help.   

I do know that each of these people is precious to Jesus, and we who call ourselves Christians have a responsibility to help them. How they came to be in such dire circumstances is not as important as are the circumstances themselves. Whatever else is going on in their lives, their need is real.    

For books by Joyce, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/      

Who's on First?

Since Abbot and Costello first performed their now classic comedy skit “Who’s on First?” that question has frequently been posed by people who must perform in front of an audience. More often than not, however, no one wants to be on first.

I am the exception to that rule. When I was in school, we would sometimes be required to recite poetry or give a report in front of the class. When the teacher would ask for a volunteer to present first, I always raised my hand. For one thing, I had always gone over my information just before the class began, and it was fresh on my mind. I knew that if I could present before I had a chance to hear everyone else, I would stand a much better chance of giving a good performance. Besides, I knew that by presenting first I would eliminate a situation where I would grow progressively more nervous as I waited for my turn.

When I became an adult, I discovered that there were many times when I was still on first, but those situations were usually much more uncomfortable than the ones from my school days. Life is made up of numerous situations where there are a fairly large number of people who are in agreement about something, but no one wants to be the first to voice her opinion. In those situations it is impossible to know whether you are the only one who holds a particular view until you act on your beliefs.

One time when my entire family was on first occurred when my children were very young. We had only four children at that time, but the oldest was only four years old, so we gave the impression of having more children than we actually did. On the day in question, we had arrived at church a little late and were forced to sit right down front on the second row. Praise and worship was still going on when we arrived, so we were able to get everyone seated without disrupting the service.

Our pastor, who was only forty-three years old, had died very unexpectedly several months earlier, and the church had just hired a new pastor. The new pastor seemed alright, but no one knew very much about him. He was young and enthusiastic, and those appeared to be his strongest qualities.

On the day in question, as soon as the new pastor addressed the congregation, he announced that we as a congregation were going to “get married.” He was going to perform a ceremony that morning wherein he would join every member of the congregation to every other member. We would all then be responsible for each other in every conceivable way. We would be responsible for each other’s debts and for each other’s general welfare because we would all be husbands and wives to one another. The pastor ended with, “If you don’t want to get married, you’re a whore, so get out.”

My husband John and I looked at each other, and whispered. “Let’ go.” We took the two older children by their hands, picked up the two babies and walked out. As we left, I was careful not to look at anyone; I knew from observing the reaction of the congregation as the new pastor made his announcement, that the proposal had been extremely well received. I also knew that nothing could persuade us to remain and participate in the “wedding” that was about to take place. We left as quietly and unobtrusively as possible and never returned. 

Within six months the new pastor had been forced to leave the church when it was discovered that he was having sex with several of the minor teenaged girls. That was the end; the church did not survive.

Many years later a woman came up to me in a store and introduced herself. She said that she was in the congregation the day that John and I took our children and left.

“When I heard what the pastor had to say, I thought it was a wonderful idea,” she told me. “I was ready to do it, but then I saw you take your kids and leave. I knew that you and your husband were really solid, so I thought there must be something wrong with it. So I left too. I walked out right behind you.”

I may never know whether others left that day because of the example we set by walking out, but I am glad that God prompted that woman to share her story with me. I was especially blessed because we had not left to make a statement. We were concerned with doing the right thing, and, in that case, the right thing involved walking out while several hundred people glared at us. I had always believed that in the eyes of those people John and I were villains.

In retrospect, I believe that God arranged for us to be sitting in that second row in full view of the congregation. I believe that He wanted us to demonstrate our objections by simply walking out and, thus, making a statement about the unscriptural ceremony that was about to take place.

We rarely have much notice when we are going to be called on to be the one who is on first. I am glad, however, that I have been in many situations where I was the one who was on first. Being on first is frequently uncomfortable, but when we agree to go first, we have the privilege of setting an example that may help someone, or lots of someones, make the right decision for their own lives. I cannot think of a better reason to volunteer.

For books by Joyce Swann, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/.

When the End is Near

When I was twenty-five years old, my husband and I made the trip to Parsons, Kansas, to introduce our newly-born baby girl to my relatives. My grandfather was seventy-six at the time, and, to me, he seemed ancient. In fact, I thought it likely that he would die before I saw him again, and I spent as much time talking to him as possible.

My grandfather was born into a family of fourteen children, and he grew up in extreme poverty on a farm in Pleasanton, Kansas.  He left only to fight in World War I and then returned to Kansas where he married my grandmother at age twenty-seven. For a time he supported his family by working as a barber, but he took a job with the Katy Railroad as soon as one became available, and he remained there until he retired.

My grandfather never had any money. He and my grandmother bought a small house on five acres of land at the edge of town, and they fed their six surviving children by raising a huge garden and milking their own cow. Their meat was provided by the chickens that they raised and the calf and pig that they butchered each year. Life was hard.

Yet, my grandfather never said anything to indicate that they were poor. During the depression, he instructed each of his six children to bring one child home from school each evening to have “supper” with them. This was a great treat for the children who lived in town and often went to bed hungry. His only stipulation was that they had to bring different children home each evening so that they could rotate those special meals among the children in their classes.

In spite of the obvious hardships that my grandfather had endured, he never talked about his unfulfilled dreams. I never heard him say, “I wish,” or “I wanted,” or “I could have.” He lived his life simply and honestly in a straight-forward manner, and he seemed to be at peace with himself and his neighbors.

Nevertheless, I felt certain that a man of his age must have some regrets, and so during that visit, I asked him if he could go back in time and change anything about his life what that change would be. I was certain that he would say that he would have liked to have been better educated, or he would have liked to have made more money, or he would have like to have traveled to distant parts of the world. Surely, by the time a man has lived seventy-six years, he must have something he would go back and change that would have, in turn, changed the outcome of the rest of his life.

 I was very surprised, therefore, when he responded without the slightest hesitation, “I would only change one thing. I would have kept my baby from dying if I could have.” (This was a reference to the sixteen-month old baby girl who died of diphtheria).

What could possibly cause a man to be so content with a life that would appear to an observer to be completely unremarkable? I believe that the secret to my grandfather’s contentment was this: At the age of thirty-eight, he became a Christian. When he accepted Christ, he did so with his whole heart, and he never looked back.  From that time on Christ was the reason for everything he did.

My grandfather had smoked a pipe since he was eleven or twelve years old, but when he became a Christian, he stopped smoking—not because anyone told him that he should not smoke—but because he believed that smoking did not honor Christ. He never smoked again, and he never talked about having quit; it was just no longer a part of who he was.

Everything that my grandfather did was a reflection of his relationship to Christ. I do not know what he did prior to his conversion, but during the forty years that I knew him, he never drank; he never swore; and he never told a lie that I was aware of.

I needn’t have worried about not seeing my grandfather again. He lived an additional fourteen years after that visit, dying less than three months before his ninetieth birthday. He is buried in a beautiful little country cemetery only a few feet from the grave of his baby girl whose death he always mourned.

A few years after my grandfather’s death my mother and stepfather visited my family, and my stepfather began talking about my grandfather. He said that he had noticed that during the last couple of years before my grandfather died, whenever he napped in his favorite chair, he would talk in his sleep. One day my stepfather decided that he wanted to find out what my grandfather was saying, and he walked to his chair and bent his head to catch his words.

“He was praying!” my stepfather exclaimed. “All that talking in his sleep was just praying.”My stepfather was disappointed that there were no deep dark secrets to be discovered, and he quickly lost interest in my grandfather’s sleeping habits.

I, however, am blessed beyond measure to know that my grandfather was a man who loved Jesus so much that he even talked to him in his sleep. That is the best legacy he could have left me, and I hope to follow his example so that when I am seventy-six years old I can look back on my life and say with honesty that my only regret is having lost my own baby girl. If I live to be old enough to spend much of the day napping in my chair, I hope that my thoughts will be so centered on Jesus that I will talk to Him even as I sleep.

My grandfather’s name is not known outside of that small area where he lived and died, but during his lifetime he had a reputation as an honest man who loved his family and helped his neighbor. He died without regrets, and when the end was near, he drew ever closer to his Savior. I don’t know how a life can be more successful than that.

For books by Joyce Swann, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/ or like her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/frontier2000mediagroup

Once upon a Time

I have one little granddaughter who loves stories as much as I do, and whenever we are together ,we spend a good deal of our time telling stories. In fact, all of the stories in my two children’s books www.frontier2000.net  were born in my imagination specifically to entertain her.

By the time that she was four or five years old, Fascia loved to participate in the telling of the stories, and she would often interject her ideas as the story unfolded. For instance, when I would tell her the story of Red Riding Hood, she always described a cake that Red and her mother made to take to Grandma. The cake was “purple with purple frosting and white star sprinkles. It tasted just like cherries, but it didn’t have any cherries in it.” The stories were always an interactive experience that were a source of endless entertainment for both of us.

I am probably responsible for Fascia’s becoming so involved in the story telling because, when she was barely old enough to want to hear a story, I told her that all great stories begin the same way: “Once upon a time.” After that whenever she asked for a story I would tell her that she had to start it for me with the words that begin all great stories.

When Fascia was seven years old, she began memorizing scripture as part of her homeschool curriculum. Apparently, on this particular occasion she had been memorizing verses from the first chapter of the Gospel of John because when I said, “How do all great stories begin?”

She responded, “In the beginning.”

Immediately, Fascia realized her “mistake” and looked embarrassed. She started to correct herself, but I stopped her. “No, you’re right,” I said. “The only great stories start with, ‘In the beginning.’”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,14)

These few lines contain the entire Gospel message, and they are at the heart of every Bible story and every Bible prophecy. If we were given only five minutes to witness to someone who had never heard the name of Jesus, I believe that using only these two verses we could present the Gospel message in such a way that he could receive salvation.

If we understand that Jesus was always with God and always was God, we understand that He was present at creation and that it was His power that spoke the world into being. We understand that Jesus is God both of the Old and New Testaments.

If we understand that He became flesh and dwelt among us, we know that He was willing to step down from His rightful place in Heaven, to humble himself, and to come to earth as a baby.

If we understand that we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, we know that He revealed himself as God’s only begotten Son who takes away the sins of the world.

If we understand that He is full of grace, we know that it is His grace alone that washes away our sins and allows us to come into fellowship with the Father.

If we understand that He is full of truth, we know that He is who He claimed to be—The Truth. He is not a truth; He is The Truth. Any “truth” that contradicts Jesus is not truth at all.

I am glad that I have a little granddaughter who is being taught the scriptures and whose heart is already set on Jesus. Sometimes old grandma’s like me become confused and begin to believe that the world’s greatest stories begin with a worldly idea—Once upon a time. It is a good thing to have someone who knows better, who can provide gentle correction and remind us that all great stories begin the same way—In the beginning.

For great stories written by Joyce, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/ or like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/frontier2000mediagroup

Our Response

Texas Governor Rick Perry’s Day of Prayer that was held on Saturday, August 6, was titled “The Response,” which was a reference to Joel 2:12-17 “You call us to repent Lord, and this day is our response,” said Perry as he prayed and addressed the crowd of more than thirty thousand who gathered at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Interestingly, on Saturday I was unable to find any media coverage of the event other than a brief mention on Fox News. It seems that what just might prove to be the most important event of 2011 concerning the future of our country was simply not deemed newsworthy. I was, therefore, unable to access any information about The Response until this morning when I arrived at my office and turned on my computer.

Although we were unable to travel to Houston for the event, my family and I spent Saturday in prayer and fasting to add our voices to those of our fellow Americans all across this country who participated either in Houston or through simulcasts in their churches or on their computers.

I believe that the timing of this event was absolutely a “God thing.” No one could have foreseen that one day before the event the USA’s credit rating would be downgraded for the first time ever. Americans are frightened and angry and unsure about their futures, and on Saturday, most were reeling from the shock of the additional bad economic news.  But God knew! And He had prepared the heart of one man, who represents one state, to call the entire nation to a day of prayer and fasting.

We may never know the full effect of August 6 on our nation, but this much we do know: The United States is a nation in crisis, but it is not a nation without hope. As long as we have people who understand that Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our problems, and as long as we are willing to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness and healing, there is hope both for our present and our future.

All of us would prefer to live in a stress-free world where financial problems do not exist, but I am glad that I am here today to be a living witness to God’s power. I am honored to be able to join many thousands of my fellow Americans in calling upon the name of Jesus Christ on behalf of my nation.

In his address to those gathered at Reliant Stadium, Governor Perry said that the only thing that we love more than our country is “the living Christ.” Perry has his priorities right. I am grateful for all that God has done for us as a country and as individuals, but I am most grateful for the precious gift of His Son. I am also grateful that we still have men and women in leadership positions who are willing to put that which is spiritually expedient before that which is politically expedient.

Whatever the final outcome of The Response may be, I want to say, “Thank you, Governor Perry, for speaking on behalf of America’s Christians and for taking the time to organize the event that could turn our country around.”

For books by Joyce Swann, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net or like her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/frontier2000mediagroup

Deep in the Heart of Texans

A few weeks ago when he announced The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis, Texas Governor Rick Perry said, “There is hope for America…and we will find it on our knees.” Thus, Governor Perry set the tone for the August 6 event that will be held at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Perry conceived, initiated and called for this event, and it is very different from anything we might expect from a politician whom nearly everyone is expecting to throw his hat into the ring to secure the GOP presidential nomination.

The call for a national day of prayer and fasting is not a “safe” move, politically speaking. Perry received harsh criticism in May of this year when he asked Texans to pray for rain. Atheists’ groups were enraged that he would have the “audacity” to ask for prayer to break the drought that was devastating the state. Add a call for fasting to a call for prayer, and it is a foregone conclusion that he is making a lot of people very unhappy.

Perry will not enjoy a political advantage from the event, and those who choose to attend will not benefit financially. He has invited all United States Governors as well as a number of Christian and political leaders to join him in Houston for the event. However, there will be NO DVD sales, NO book sales, NO CD sales, NO Tee-shirt sales and NO vendors.

Perry secured $2 million in private funding to ensure that the event would be sponsored and, thus, eliminate the possibility of anyone turning it into a commercial enterprise. In fact, the stadium will be limited to water, prayer and fasting. 

Most of us are unable to travel to Houston this Saturday to participate in Governor Perry’s day of prayer and fasting, but we can all participate at home. I have spent every day since the 2008 election complaining about the direction that our country is talking, and I know a lot of other people who have done the same thing. I am certain that many of us have prayed and fasted for our country during these past three years, but this is our first opportunity to join with many thousands of like-minded Christians on one specific day to ask God to heal our land. What could be easier than spending one day praying and fasting? It will cost you nothing, but it could result in an outpouring of God’s Spirit that will change the direction of our country now and for years to come.

For books by Joyce Swann, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/ or like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/frontier2000mediagroup